Football Analyst for @Goal | BSc Statistics | 'The third man gives proper life to a combination’
Joined March 2024
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Liverpool's attack under Iraola needs to learn to be more methodical when in possession
You can't overwhelm the best defenses constantly playing at a frantic pace. Liverpool's temporization issues comes from lacking players with Pausa in midfield and right wing (when Rio isn't playing)
Liverpool's midfield would also do with a controller/passer in midfield, an overlapping RB and a left footed RW to complement Isak, Barcola & Wirtz left side dominance
KTA retweeted
Chelsea are just in Year 1 in the project development lifecycle under Alonso so I'm willing to give him some grace this season but with increased scrutiny as time goes on
This is because Year 1 is typically the most inconsistent phase under a new project manager handling a new team. Inconsistency in both IP & OOP ideas, inconsistency in the coaching of the press, inconsistency in optimal player profiling and overall decision making.
After the Brentford loss for example, Alonso ditched the 5-2-3 OOP shape for a more compact 4-4-2 to stabilize the team and the defense has subsequently improved regardless of the personnel playing. This is an example of a process looks like; making mistakes in real time and adjusting accordingly
I can't say I've not been frustrated at times with Alonso but as Chelsea fans we've been here before, so I reckon it's about time we just accept the short term pain for the long term benefits under a manager that has proven himself.
KTA retweeted
Honestly feel like Alonso's handling of Estevao & Lavia would turn out to superb man-management despite not looking that way from the outside initially
You don't need to be a genius manager to know that Henderson & Neto are inferior technically to the latter two for the style of football we want, but Alonso wants to tap into the heads of the younger players first, so that when the opportunity comes knocking they would relish it even more.
Lavia has now completed both matches in the same week for the first time ever looking like a world beater, while Alonso also admitted in his post match presser that he knew Estevao would start against Man United but needed him to improve the basics first.
Patience....
Asides being a strategy to manipulate a M2M press, Caicedo dropping into the deep LHS has other key advantages
It centralizes Colwill as the CCB and shifts Fofana to RCB position, as both FB move into a higher zone with the LB higher and Josh lower
The LB also pushing higher allows Rogers to move into the left pocket. Rogers playing from that left zone led to his solo goal against Man United
Wonder why Caicedo and Lavia has the best balance especially if Cole Palmer is your 10?
This clip highlights the difference between Caicedo & Lavia when they are both asked to play the no.6 role
Caicedo has the temperament of a 'hunter' who prefers to put out fires when he anticipates danger or a counter pressing opportunity.
Lavia's temperament is reminiscent to that of an 'anchor' who prefers to hold his position and screen the backline.
The former prefers to operate in a man oriented fashion, while the latter prefers to operate zonally while respecting space more.
In a nutshell, Caicedo is like Kante while Lavia is more like Partey if you want a more clearer stylistic similarity.
So I have come to the conclusion that if Caicedo is your primary holding 6 then your team's midfield balance would likely be capped long term especially as a possession based side.
This thread is not to bash Caicedo in any way but instead to enlighten the masses regarding Chelsea's need for optimal platforming of our talented crop of midfielders to attain the best midfield balance 🧵
Alonso doesn't want to build his team with Welbeck as a starter because he's not going to be here long term, hence, the reduced role to impact sub
Joao Pedro is the starter but if he's not available then it makes sense to use a different profile of forward (Neto) without losing the dynamics of the 3 attackers behind him. This would be valuable both this season and beyond
The Tottenham game showed Alonso the cons of too much tinkering especially with the Rogers CF role and Quenda LW experiment.
Honestly feel like Alonso's handling of Estevao & Lavia would turn out to superb man-management despite not looking that way from the outside initially
You don't need to be a genius manager to know that Henderson & Neto are inferior technically to the latter two for the style of football we want, but Alonso wants to tap into the heads of the younger players first, so that when the opportunity comes knocking they would relish it even more.
Lavia has now completed both matches in the same week for the first time ever looking like a world beater, while Alonso also admitted in his post match presser that he knew Estevao would start against Man United but needed him to improve the basics first.
Patience....
Chelsea are just in Year 1 in the project development lifecycle under Alonso so I'm willing to give him some grace this season but with increased scrutiny as time goes on
This is because Year 1 is typically the most inconsistent phase under a new project manager handling a new team. Inconsistency in both IP & OOP ideas, inconsistency in the coaching of the press, inconsistency in optimal player profiling and overall decision making.
After the Brentford loss for example, Alonso ditched the 5-2-3 OOP shape for a more compact 4-4-2 to stabilize the team and the defense has subsequently improved regardless of the personnel playing. This is an example of a process looks like; making mistakes in real time and adjusting accordingly
I can't say I've not been frustrated at times with Alonso but as Chelsea fans we've been here before, so I reckon it's about time we just accept the short term pain for the long term benefits under a manager that has proven himself.
KTA retweeted
Alonso basically fielded Chelsea's most technically gifted personnel bar Joao Pedro
The midfield pivot of Caicedo & Lavia + Estevao on the RW provide better control compared with their counterparts in the same positions
Man United thrive in transition so putting out an XI that excel at ball retention made lots of sense. Chelsea failed to establish that control in the first half but second half was much better even before the red card
Alonso basically fielded Chelsea's most technically gifted personnel bar Joao Pedro
The midfield pivot of Caicedo & Lavia + Estevao on the RW provide better control compared with their counterparts in the same positions
Man United thrive in transition so putting out an XI that excel at ball retention made lots of sense. Chelsea failed to establish that control in the first half but second half was much better even before the red card
